‘Matric Champion’ award for 199 Odisha A 1 graders

As many as 199 meritorious students, who achieved A 1 grade (91 per cent and above) mark in the last matriculation examination, were conferred with Matric Champions-2014 award organised by Odisha’s leading Odia daily- ‘The Sambad’- at a ceremony at Jayadev Bhawan here today.

Photo: Biswaranjan Mishra

The award consists of a medal and a certificate.

Among the 199 felicitated, 116 students are from Khurda district, 61 from Nayagarh and the rest are from Puri district.

Teachers of these schools from the districts were also felicitated by the guests for their contribution in shaping the future of the students.

Earlier, a total of 1200 students who achieved A 1 grade in Matriculation had been conferred with the Matric Champion awards at similar programmes organised by the Sambad at various places covering 27 districts in the state.

Gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest, Dr Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, eminent Odissi Danseuse and Former Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University, urged the students to follow to their heart in choosing a subject to go ahead in future. They should not be forced to act on the order of their parents in choosing their goal, she said.

Presiding over the award ceremony, Editor of Sambad and chairman of Ama Odisha Soumya Ranjan Patnaik highlighted the words of Dr Priyambada and urged the parents to keep their sons and daughters to stand on their own feet. “Don’t put a full stop on your high ambition after receiving this award. Keep the spirit on in your life to prove yourself as an asset to your family, society and nation,” Patnaik advised the students.

Photo: Biswaranjan Mishra

Patnaik prescribed two mantras before the students on how to move ahead in their life: obey parent’s instructions and act on strong will power in achieving success.

Among others, Gourihari Das, Features Editor of Sambad and Manish Ahuja, Sambad’s Marketing DGM, also spoke on the occasion.